History is being made at the Colorado legislature Monday on two fronts: The Senate is hearing seven gun bills and every living speaker of the House will be in the chambers to pay tribute to one of their own.

Some Coloradans began lining up to testify against the gun bills at 6:30 a.m., although the Capitol doors don't open until 7 a.m. and the first bills won't be heard until 10:30 a.m.

Retired police officer David Strumillo of Colorado Springs brought his three children, Morgan, 14 and twins Eden and Indiana, 11.

"This is better than any civics lesson that can be taught in class," he said.

Philip Lauter, who holds a concealed-carry weapons permit, said he plans to testify against a bill banning concealed weapons in campus buildings.

"This poorly conceived bill will do so much more harm than it could ever hope to do good," he said.

Capitol staffers worked this morning to accommodate what are expected to be large crowds, setting up overflow hearing rooms and procedures for testifying. Public testimony on all seven Democratic gun bills is limited to 90 minutes per side for each proposal, dismaying some Republicans who say not enough people are going to be able to have a say.

In the House, current and former lawmakers and a former governor will honor the late Bev Bledsoe, a Hugo Republican and the longest serving speaker in state history.

"It's Speaker Day at the Capitol," said former Speaker Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, who served in that post in 2009 and 2010. "This is a historical moment. I don't think we've had all the living speakers together at the Capitol in 20 years."

Carroll, an ordained minister and an attorney, will recite the morning prayer in the House.

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